Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (right) talks with cornerbacks Orlando Scandrick (32) and Mike Jenkins (21) as media approaches at the end of the afternoon session of the Dallas Cowboys training camp at the Alamodome on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011. Ryan left the field without taking questions.

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (right) talks with cornerbacks Orlando Scandrick (32) and Mike Jenkins (21) as media approaches at the end of the afternoon session of the Dallas Cowboys training camp at the

Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (center) watches his players during a scrimmage at the morning session of the Dallas Cowboys training camp at the Alamodome on Friday, July 29, 2011. Kin Man Hui/kmhui@express-news.net

Rob Ryan, who was the Browns’ defensive coordinator this season, interviewed with the Cowboys on Friday.

Rob Ryan, who was the Browns’ defensive coordinator this season, interviewed with the Cowboys on Friday.

Photo: Associated Press

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Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan leaves the NFL team's headquarters Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, in Berea, Ohio. After two 5-11 seasons, head coach Eric Mangini was fired by team president Mike Holmgren, who was to meet later with Ryan and the rest of Mangini's staff regarding their future with the team.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Cleveland Browns defensive coodinator Rob Ryan watches warmups during a game agaisnt the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida.

When he heard his new boss had taken a thinly veiled jab at one of the Dallas Cowboys' most bitter rivals, linebacker Bradie James could barely contain his grin.

New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan didn't mention the Philadelphia Eagles by name earlier this week when he vowed to “beat the ass” of the “all-hype team,” but it didn't take a crossword enthusiast to fill in the blanks.

“I've got to roll with whoever's in charge,” James said after Wednesday morning's walkthrough at the Alamodome. “If that's the way he wants to approach it, it's our job to go out there and execute and make sure he doesn't look the fool.”

It's not difficult to surmise how Ryan's words might have played in Philadephia, where the Eagles have bolstered their defense with a rash of high-profile moves. Philly fans will likely boo Ryan like Santa Claus when the Cowboys visit Oct. 30.

His bulletin-board bravado certainly has the attention of the players in the Cowboys' defensive huddle, who will soon be charged with cashing the checks their outspoken coordinator has been busy writing.

They are counting on Ryan, a former defensive coordinator in Oakland and Cleveland, to produce improved results with much the same roster that set dubious club records for yards and points allowed last season.

His first order of business: restoring swagger to a defense that gave up 27.3 points per game a year ago, second-worst in the league.

“I love him,” Scandrick said. “He's a great guy to play for, a great personality. I think you're going to see it rub off on this defense.”

Ryan's bluster runs counter to the buttoned-down professionalism of head coach Jason Garrett, whose vanilla daily press conferences give off the stilted air of a White House press briefing.

Whereas Garrett chooses his words carefully to avoid even the whiff of controversy, the unfiltered Ryan seems to relish making headlines.

“Rob Ryan is a confident guy, and one of the things that we like to instill in our players, our coaches and our football team is confidence,” Garrett said. “He has a track record of being able to do that.”

Though Ryan left the Alamodome without addressing the media throng Wednesday, Garrett said he has no intention of asking his new defensive coordinator to become more introverted.

When he hired Ryan in January, Garrett knew his mouth was part of a package deal.

“We want people to be who they are,” Garrett said. “We bring people here because of who they are.”

The more Cowboys players learn about Ryan, the more they seem to like who he is.

With more than a month to go before the start of the regular season, Ryan has already thrown down the gauntlet.

“We accept the challenge,” James said. “There are always different challenges. We just so happen to have one guy who throws them out there.”